DENVER – In its quest for a fifth-straight Western Athletic Conference championship, the 2018-19 New Mexico State women’s basketball team was picked as preseason WAC favorites by the league’s coaches and the media while Brooke Salas earned preseason WAC Player of the Year honors in both polls. The WAC’s nine head coaches could not vote for their own team or players.

“The team accolades are an honor but it just shows how much of a challenge it will be playing with a target on our backs night in and night out,” said head coach Brooke Atkinson. ”We’re excited for the challenges this season will bring.”

In the head coaches’ poll, New Mexico State earned 7-of-9 possible first-place votes for a total of 62 points. Cal State Bakersfield is picked to finish second and received two first-place votes for a total of 56 points. Following the Aggies and Runners were Seattle (49), Grand Canyon (45), Kansas City and Texas-Rio Grande Valley with 33 points each, WAC-newcomer California Baptist with 18, Utah Valley with 17 and Chicago State with 11.

The media poll saw the Aggies earn all nine first-place votes for 81 total points with CSU Bakersfield (69), Seattle (63) and Grand Canyon (46) rounding out the top four spots. Kansas City and UTRGV are tied for fifth with 33 points each followed by California Baptist (18), Utah Valley (17) and Chicago State (11).

Salas, a native of Placentia, Calif., averaged 19.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.2 steals during the 2017-18 season on her way to WAC Player of the Year, All-WAC First Team and WAC All-Defensive team honors. During a game against Chicago State on Jan. 6, 2018, Salas became the 23rd Aggie to join the 1,000-Point Club and is NM State’s 14th all-time leading scorer with 1,302 points.

Joining Salas on the preseason All-WAC First Team in both polls is junior guard Gia Pack. The Phoenix native averaged 16.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 2017-18 as she earned First-Team All-WAC honors.

“We’re happy for Brooke and Gia and the respect they’ve earned from the conference, but they’re our two hungriest players,” said Atkinson. “They deserve it because they are two of our hardest workers and continue to lead our team. They both expect big things out of themselves and we know they’re going to keep working.”